Wahala As Customs Men Beat Up Female Staff, FAAN Manager At Lagos Airport

Some officials of the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) on Thursday beat up the Manager, Landside Service, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Col. John George over parking space at the cargo terminal, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

It was learnt that trouble started when one Mr Umen a customs officer, drove a private car with registration number LND 633 CF to park in the parking lots built for revenue generation by FAAN.

The customs officer refused to pay at the parking gate, saying that he was in uniform and can not pay the parking fee.

Umen, however, went to mobilise his colleagues who came with two customs pickup van loaded with armed custom men.

On arrival at the scene, the armed customs men threatened and beat up the female FAAN staff manning the gate of the park for refusing to allow Umen park his car.

When George came to intervene on the situation, he was manhandled and beaten up by the customs men.

George said that a circular was send to all various security agencies on the park that FAAN would be collecting fee on that particular park for the purpose of revenue generation.

He said that only official vehicles would be exempted from paying the fee, which he said that all the agencies acknowledged.

The manager noted that it was a surprise to him for a senior customs officer to engage himself in such a fracas after what the customs just went through with the clearing agents at the airport.

He noted that the road to the hajj camp was blocked by the Customs which could have affected rescue operations if there  had been emergency.

Furthermore,he said that he called Umen to discuss with him and offered him (Umen) to park his car inside the hajj camp compound, but he refused.

He said that the Customs officer told FAAN officers that their comptroller directed them not to pay and shoot at sight whoever disturbed  them at the airport.

Some FAAN materials and equipment were scattered and  destroyed as the customs men threatened to shoot anybody that came their way.

Attempt to get to the Customs Public Relations Officer, Mrs Thelma Williams proved abortive as the reporter was not allowed to gain entrance into the custom office.

Mr Yakubu Dati, General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, told NAN that he was aware of the incident, saying that investigation is ongoing on the matter.